Flax-puller.



W. G. GRIFFIN.

PLAX FULLER.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 24, 1908.

Patented July 6, 1909.

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W. G. GRIFFIN.

FLAX FULLER. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 24, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GEORGE GRIFFIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLAX-PULLER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM. G. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Flax-Puller, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flax-harvesters, and has for its object to provide an improved flax-pulling mechanism, embodying a novel construction which enables it to be applied to a binder in order that the pulled flax may be bound in bundles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which enables the attachment to the binder to be made without al.- tcring or modifying the structure of the latter, the sickle only being removed.

The invention also has for its object certain other novel features of construction to be more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1. is a plan view of the invention so much only of the binder being shown as will suffice to show the connection of the invention therewith. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section.

In the drawings 5 denotes the platform of an. ordinary binder over which the endless conveyer-apron 6 travels, 7 is the cutter bar, and S are the guards. These are well known JHJTCS of a binder and a further descrivtion thereof is thought unnecessary.

The puller-mechanism comprises a series of fluted rollers 9 terminating at their outer ends in a plain tapering portion 10 to per mit the flax to enter between the rollers, and a short cylindrical portion 11., the latter serv-- ing as a journal. The rollers are formed at their rear ends with spindles 12. The rollers are arranged in pairs, and on the spindles of each. pair of rollers are meshing gear-Wheels 13. On the spindle of one of the members of each pair of rollers is a bevel-gear 141 which meshes with a similar gear on a drive-shaft 16. The spindles are journaled in bars 17 and 18 which are spaced apart a sufficient distance so that the first-mentioned bar may be attached to the cutter-bar 7, and the other one to the platform 5 at the rear end thereof, the attachment being made by bolts 19 or other suitable means. On the bar 18 are bearing-boxes 20 for the shaft 16. The journals 11 of the rollers 9 work in bearingboxes 21 on guard-fingers located in front of the rollers. Said fingers comprise a cross- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1908.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 459,390.

bar 22 formed with a forwardly directed point 23 of skeleton form, and having on its rear face the bearing-boxes 21. The guardfingers are connected to the bar 18 by braces 24. The arrangement of the guard-fingers is such that its bearing-boxes support one member of the pairs of rollers 9 and the adjacent member of the adjacent pair, whereby the points are properly located to guide the flax between the rollers. The end rollers are supported in bearing-l oxes 25 formed on bars 26 which are shaped for attachment to the shoes at the ends of the cutte1'-bar. The shaft 16 is driven from the main-wheel 27 of the binder by a chain 28 connecting sprocket wheels 29 and 30 on the axle of the main wheel and on the shaft, respectively. Any other suitable drivinggear may be employed according to the type of binder to which the attachment is applied.

The attachment herein described can be readily applied. to any ordinary binder after removing its sickle, and it is not necessary to alter or modify the structure of the binder. By having the spindles 12 extend the entire length of the binder-platform and by gearing them together in pairs and providing a gearing between the drive-shaft and each pair, they are given sufficient strength to withstand the pressure on the rollers. In fields where some of the rollers come in contact with a heavier growth, the strain is evenly divided so that it does not interfere with the tension on the adjacent rollers. The gearing is located at the rear end of the platform so that there is no chance of weeds or flax becoming entangled therewith. The platform 5 carries a guard 31 which extends beneath the gears.

The operation may be summarized as follows: The flax enters between the rollers and is pulled up by the rotation thereof and drops on the apron 6 which. delivers it to the binding mechanism (not shown), where it is bound into bundles. The binder reel 32 also assists to throw the flax on the apron.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a binder, of a flax pulling attachment therefor, comprising front and rear supporting bars secured to the binder platform, spindles journaled in said bars, and geared to the driving mechanism of the binder, pulling rollers on the spindles terminating in journals, guard fingers comprising plates formed with hearing boxes for the aforesaid journals, and having forwardly directed points of skeleton form, and braces gers extending forwardly from the plate, and

connecting said plates to the front bar. a brace connecting said plate to one of the 2. The combination with a binder, of a aforesald bars. flaX-pulling attachment therefor, comprising In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 5 supporting-bars secured to the binder-platmy own, I have hereto aflixed my signature [:3

form, spindles journaled in said bars and in the resence of tWo Witnesses. geared to the driving-mechanism of the l VILLIAM GEORGE GRIFFIN. binder, pulling-rollers on the spindles ter- Witnesses: minating in journals, a plate formed with JOHN E. MOGOVERN,

10 hearing-boxes for said journals, guard-finl JULIUS J. REITER. 

